Later this spring, a new mural of indigenous art will greet travellers passing through the Timmins Victor M. Power Airport.
It’s a project of the Misiway Community Health Centre. Health promoter Kristin Murray says it’s a way to get elders and youth to make a connection, with the elders sharing their teachings… and the youth depicting them in murals.
And she has found an artist to lead the project involving indigenous youth from 12 to 25.
“Her name is Mique Michelle. She does amazing work throughout not even just Canada, she kind of goes all over,” says Murray. “So she’s really good at engaging youth, getting them to just bring to the forefront what it is they want to see in their city, what the city represents and putting that in a mural. It’s really great.”
Murray hopes downtown businesses will allow other murals on the sides of their buildings.
Participants need not have artistic ability.
“One of the indigenous teachings is that we all have skills and abilities, so you may not be able to paint, but there’s other things,” she explains. “Will you be able to share your ideas? Will you be able to listen to the teachings and share those teachings for years to come?”
A meeting to discuss concepts for the murals takes place Wednesday, April 16th at the Misiway centre on Wilson Avenue, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
